Marriage is a social unification between two persons that make them legally, socially and emotionally attached. The UK and other westernized countries are increasingly becoming secular. The religious and nonreligious persons view marriage as unnecessary and out dated. Certain issues make them have such feelings towards the union. These issues include; high rates of divorce, possibility of procreation outside marriage.
Other issues are; financial stability of both sexes, possibility of child adoption, autonomy in life and changing trends in sexual behavior. The above mentioned issues are of great apprehension in modern lifestyles. They do not perceive the essence of entering in to marriage when they can accomplish most of the above mentioned issues outside marriage. This renders marriage out dated and no longer suits their lifestyle.
Divorce
Divorce is a tendency that portrays marriage as an out dated tradition. There is an elevated rate of divorce as witnessed in the world, from the Prince of Wales, Nelson Mandela to Tiger woods. Divorce does not discriminate on the basis of social backgrounds. Most people shun marriage because of the fear of experiencing divorce. It is noteworthy that costs as they pertain to divorce are sky-rocketing in a capitalist society. In the end, divorce victims suffer mental or financial instability.
It is noteworthy that Infidelity is a triggering factor for divorce. In the contemporary lifestyle, most married couples find infidelity as the most noticeable dread. Individuals engaging in extra-marital associations ultimately dishonor their marriages thus culminating in separation.
Most young people argue that they do not want to spend their life with one partner and end up facing painful separation procedures. They desire the autonomy to select different partners at a given time. In modern lifestyles, the attitudes towards marriage contradict the customary tendencies.
Low earnings might also culminate in divorce. This leads to dissatisfaction of family needs. In modern lifestyle, most people do not want to get involved in such financial tussle, so they prefer to cohabit (Alison, 2007 pp, 150). This is experienced amongst unemployed individuals or those with low income. They cohabit with affluent elderly partners for financial satisfaction. This is a clear indication that marriage no longer suits their existence
Unfair allotment of household labor decreases marital quality and leads to strenuous relations. This makes couples terminate such unsatisfying unions. It is evident that both men and women pursue their dream careers in the contemporary lifestyles (Cornelia, 2007 pp. 45). It gets complicated for a married couple to divide house-hold labor equally. This makes the young people shun marriage thus viewing it as an obstacle towards future accomplishments.
Procreation
In ancient time, couples got married because they exuded affection for each other to aid the procreation process. Marriage was a sacred institution and a merger between two adults thus the need for respect (Berry, 1988, pp, 60). In most cases, the men were bread winners in the marriage. They were tasked with providing for the children and wife. This perspective has changed with the introduction of new lifestyles.
Marriage is portrayed as unnecessary, since most unmarried people tend to accomplish same targets as married couples. For example, one can decide to conceive children with a partner not married to them, as long as he or she is monetarily stable. They provide for children; however, they maintain their solitary status. They do not perceive the essence of entering into a marriage for procreation when they can accomplish this outside marriage (Kerber, 2005 pp. 85).
Child adoption
Incidences of child adoption are wide spread in modern lifestyles. It is a way of having children without going through natural child bearing procedure, which includes having sexual relations thus, pregnancy. This is mainly practiced by the unmarried individuals, who view marriage as outdated.
Whereas in the past, one was required to enter into a marriage institution before having children, such instances are steadily reducing. Child adoption by single individuals is triggered by experiences that do not accommodate parenting. This means that current lifestyles accommodate child adoption processes outside marriage.
Financial stability
In the past, most women entered into nuptials with a man who was economically stable. This perception as it pertains to marriage is, however, old-fashioned. As illustrated earlier, in modern lifestyle both men and women pursue their dream careers thus acquiring financial stability. Attitudes pertaining to monetary stability make individuals stay away from marriages since people are no longer financially dependent (Weisner, 2006, pp, 208).
Independence
Marriages in the past were a union between adults that made couple depends on each within the social context, expressively and financially. This meant that all decisions in the family were subject to consultation; however, consultations were at times disregarded. Men were the main bread winners; this meant that some of the decisions were taken without consultation.
This dictatorial behavior makes the modern feminine population shy away from marriage. They believe it is a male dominated institution, thus most young women value their autonomy (Nielsen, 2000 pp, 246).
Changing human sexual behaviors
In the past, sex amongst unmarried persons was not allowed. Adults had sexual relations with their spouses within the confinement of a marriage institution. In modern lifestyle, there are alterations in sexual behaviors. The society does not see the essence of entering in to marriage so as to achieve sexual satisfaction. They prefer to achieve this outside marriage. This has branded marriage as an outdated tradition.
In the contemporary lifestyle, HIV and other STDs have emerged (turner, 1990 pp, 361). This has made individuals avoid marriage for fear of getting infected; arguing that partners would demand conjugal rights consequently propagating infection.
Conclusion
Marriage in the past was a holy union between two adults. The high rate of divorce estimated at 50% has tainted the image of marriage in modern lifestyles. This has made people avoid commitment. In the ancient times, marriage was mainly used for procreation purposes. It is noteworthy that modern lifestyles propagate procreation outside marriage, thus most people regard marriage as outdated. Some individuals prefer to adopt children other than conceiving and giving birth.
In the past, women entered into marriages to be provided for; with this, it meant they propagated dependency. In the modern lifestyles, both men and women pursue their occupation and have lucrative jobs. Such women tend to remain independent, thus end up getting children with different men.
This is because they are financially stable thus can provide for children on their own. Ancient marriages discouraged sex amongst persons that were not married; however, in contemporary lifestyle, sex amongst unmarried persons is common. Individuals are likely to accrue sexual satisfaction with partners who are single like them. Emergences of STDs have led to avoidance of marriages in contemporary lifestyles.
List of References
Hantrais, A 2004, Family policy matters: responding to family change in Europe. Bristol, UK, Policy press, pp, 66
Clarke-Stewart, A, Brentano, Cornelia 2007, Divorce: causes and consequences. USA.yale University press, pp, 45-150
Kerber, K 2005, Marriage procreation and divorce. New Delhi, India. Global Vision Publishing House, 2005, pp, 85
Turner, C 1990, AIDS: Sexual behavior and intravenous drug use. Washington DC. USA, National academy press, pp, 361
Yoshikawa, H. Weisner, T, Lowe, E 2006, Making it work: low-wage employment, family life and child development, New York.USA. Russell sage foundation publications, pp, 208